Automatic washer and extractor drier



Dec. 31, 1957 c. v. BELLS 7, 5

AUTOMATIC WASHER AND EXTRACTOR DRIER Filed Dec. 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Clarence V. Bel/s INVENTOR. I By maoz iaw.

mym

Dec. 31, 1957 c. v. BELLS 2,817,964

' AUTOMATIC WASHER AND EXTRACTOR DRIER Filed Dec. 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Clarence l/. Bel/s IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC WASHER AND EXTRACTOR DRIER Clarence V. Bells, Redmond, Oreg. Application December 28, 1953, Serial No. 400,619

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-25) This invention relates in general to improvements in washing machines for clothing and similar articles, and more specifically to an improved automatic washer and extractor drier.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved washing machine which includes convenient receptacles for receiving clothing or like articles whereby such clothing may be rotated through a cleaning liquid, the washing machine being so constructed whereby when the cleaning liquid is removed, the clothing may be revolved at a relatively great rate so as to cause centrifugal extraction of the cleaning liquid from the clothing. Another object'of this invention is to provide an improved automatic washer and extractor drier which.

includes a clothing receptacle supported within a container for cleaning fluid, there being provided novel drive means for selectively rotating and revolving the receptacle whereby clothing carried thereby may be selectively washed or dried.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved washing machine which includes a clothing receptacle rotatably mounted within a container and.

having drive means for selectively revolving the same, the drive means having associated therewith manual controllable means whereby clothing receiving openings in both the container and the receptacle may be selectively aligned to permit the insertion or removal of clothing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic washer and extractor drier which includes a housing having a portion thereof forming a cleaning fluid container in which clothes may be selectively rotated to effect cleaning thereof, a portion of the housing also' forming fluid receptacles whereby cleaning fluids and rinse fluids may be selectively stored between periods of utilization. Y 1

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent residein the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is top plan view of the automatic washer and extractor drier which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the automatic washer and extractor drier of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the general relationship of clothing receptacles with respect to the main housing of the washer and the drive means for selectively rotating and revolving the clothes receptacles;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional viewon a reduced scale, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of Figure 3 and shows the relationship of fluid receptacles in the bottom of the housing and means for. returning fluid disposed therein a 21796245 Patented Dec. 3 1, 1957 into the main container of the housing, the view being on a smallscale;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional.

view through a portion of a gear housing mounted on the top of the main housing and shows the relationship of a shift rod and electro-rnagneticjmeans for operating the same, also being shown'is the manner in which an auxiliary manually controlled: drive shaft is mounted.

Referring now'to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the automatic washer and extractor drier which is the subject of this invention. The automatic washer and extractor drier includes a main housing which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The main housing 10 is generally cylindrical in outline and is circular in horizontal crosssection. The housing 10 includes a cylindrical vertical.

wall portion 12, a horizontal top wall 14 and a horizontal bottom wall 16.

The housing 10 includes a substantially horizontal partition 18 which is disposed intermediate the top wall 14' and the bottom wall 1 6; The horizontal partition divides the housing 10 into-an upper container 20 and a lower fluid receiving area. The lower fluid receiving area is sub-divided into a fluid receptacle 22 and a fluid receptacle 24 by a vertical partition 26.

Carried by the horizontal partition 18 is an upstanding support 28. The support 28 has mounted in its upper end a bearing 32 in which is received and sup-.

ported a lower end of a vertical shaft 30 for rotation. The vertical shaft 30 has its upper end secured to a gear housing 34. Secured to the upper portion of the gear housing'34 is a tubular'shaft 36. The tubular shaft 36 has the upper portion thereof rotatably journalled in a bearing 38 carried by thejtop wall 14. It will be understood that the bearing 38" is sealed against entrance of water or other cleaning -fluid carried by the containerv 26) by a sealing ring 40.

Rotatably carried byfl the gear housing 34 and extendeing out'there'of is'a horizontal shaft 42. The horizontal I shaft 42 has mounted on the outer ends thereof for rotation'therewith'a pair'of clothes receptacles which are referred to in" generalbythe reference numeral 44. Extending vertically through the tubular shaft 36 and 'rotatably journalled in bearings 46 carried thereby in;

vertical spaced relation is a vertical drive shaft 48. The vertical drive shaft 48 l 1a's mounted on its lower end a gear 50 which 'is'interrneshe'd with a gear 52 carried by the shaft 42 so that the shaft 42 may be rotated in response to rotation of the drive shaft 48. It will thus be seen that the clothes receptacles 44 may be rotated in response to rotation of the drive shaft 48 and revolved in response to rotation of the tubular shaft 36.

Carried by the topwall 14 of the housing 10 is a power unit 54 which is preferably in the form of an electric motor or any other power units may be utilized.

The power'unit 54 includes a drive shaft 56 which extends; into a gear housing-58 carried by the top wall 14 and; is journalled therein as at 60. Carried by the end of the drive shaft 56-d isposed within the gear housing 58 is a drive gear 62.- l. .p-

Referring now to Figures 3 and 6 in particular, it will be seen that carried by the upper end of the tubular shaft 36 is a gear 64. The gear 64 includes a collar portion 66 and a lower splined' portion 68. The lower splined pop 3 tion 68 is splined to the interiorof the shaft 36 so that the gear 64 may be selectively moved vertically and at the same time be in driving-connection with respect to the tubular shaft 36. Thus the gear 64 may be selectively meshed with the gear 62 to effect driving of the tubular shaft 36 by the power unit 54;

Referring once again to Figure 3, it will be seen that the upper part of the gear housing is provided with a bearing 70 in which is, rotatably journalled anxextreme upper end of the drive shaft 48. Mounted on the upper portion of the drive shaft 48 and splined thereto for vertical movement is a gear 72. -'-Iihe gear 72, like the gear 64 includes a collar portion 74. It will be understood that the gear 72 isselectively eugageable with the drivegear 62 to effect driving of vc shaft 48 by the power unit 54. i 7 i In order to infect .theselectiveaengagcmen of, the scars 64 and 7,2 with he gearx62ghiheac isprovided ashif ina yoke which is referred to in generally the reference numera-l 76. The shiftingyolse-fifincludes a-vertticahportion 78 and a pair of horizontal .lea gportionsifill :and .82- The horizontal leg portion. SQterminatesin. a bifurcated free end 84 whichhaspivotally carried thereby a ring 86 carried by the collar portion74 forrotation with re spect thereto. The lower..l'eg..8;2 terminates in "a similar bifurcated end portion 88,.as istbest illustratednin Figure 6, and has carried thereby for pivotal movement'a ring 90. The ring .90 is rotatably .carriedby the collar portion :66 of the gear 64. i

The proportions of the shifting yoke .76-are-suchthat only one of the gears..64 and. 72 may beengaged with the drive gear 62310113111115; Itxwill beseen that when the shifting yoke 76 isinitsuppermost position, the gear 64 is engaged with the drive gean62andtwhen-the shifting yoke 76 is in its lowermost position -the gear 72 is engaged with the drive gear 62. Whemtheehiftingyoke'76qisa central position, neither of the rtwo gears 64 and 72 are engaged withthedrive gear Referring now to Figure7 in particular, it will. be seen that carried. by the gear housing. 58 .011 the side vthereof remote fromthe power unit Silica-small housing 92. The housing 92 has mounted therein an telectro magnetic device 94 of which theverticalportion 78 of theashifting yoke 76 formsa part. Thezelectromaguetie device :94- ineludes .a sleeve portion 95; whiehis provided-with win rugs and other necessaryelectricalj-ufittings (luot-.1shown) and has passedstherethroughithemenficalportion flai vertical portion 78 'is provided in spaced. relation op- POSli-B. sides of: thexslAuVtQG-witiu collar-5598. Mounted onlthe verticalyoflibn'fiiiflndidislzooedlbeflve fl their respective .collansa-98}ond qthetjiqusing fll are coil springs 100 which .servertoanormullythe vertical oi-non 78 in a-neutmljpos'itioui when: oiil of-l'fthe electromagnetic device 9.4-fiswenergized withrthe-reunent pass ng In. one direction, iowill .bea seen thatathc vertical pOI'llOn 78 Wlll be moved vertically and whenithe-current is shut-off the springs 1.00mi" movc zthe,"vertical .pottion 78 back to its neutral position. "lihenswhen theafiowtof current is reversed, the vertical mionflfl will bmmo o downwardly. Thus'z-it willtbe mnthat-thezelectro-mag netic device 94 may be utilized: forisiiifting the-shifting yoke 76 and thereby remotely: controlling rthe engagement of the gears aud -72 W lhr1h ad1'iWrg6BT-6Z.

In the operation-of'the mslfemandrextraeto ul-iie W111 be seen that whenztlurrcontainenzlbaisfilled-within suitable. cleaning-fluid, such't-us a sluitthlc't'map' or detergent, the.;clothes;: through; the \driving'tof; zthet-ttrive'liihzit flr: After the clothes have been sufficiently: wusl'lid; .nheidleaningwfluid:

to be understood that the cleaning fluid will enter and pass out of the clothes receptacles 44 through the numerous apertures 102 therein.

In order to effect the placing of clothes and removal of clothes relative to the clothes receptacles 44, the container 20 is provided in the vertical portion 12 with an opening 104 which is selectively closed by a door 106 or other suitable closure. Also, each of the clothes receptacles 44 is provided with a suitable door 105. Iu' order to effect the alignment of the doors 106 with the door 105, there is provided a manually operable drive shaft 108. The drive shaft 108 is rotatably journalled both in a support bracket 110 carried by the top wall '14 and abearing112 carried by the gear housing 58, as is best illustrated in Figure 7. The inner end of the drive shaft 108 is provided with a gear 114 which is selectively engageable with the gear 64. The outer end of the drive shaft 108 is provided witha hand wheel 116through which the drive shaft 108 may be manually turned.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, itwill be seen that carried by the drive shaft 108 within the confines of the housing 92 through which it passes is a collar 1718. The collar 118 has bearing thereagainst one end of a spring 120 whose opposite end bears against the outer surface of the gear housing 58 opposite from the bearing 112.. Thus, the drive shaft 108 is normally urged to the left, as viewed in Figure 7. When it is desired to revolve the clothes receptacles 44 to align the doors 105 and 106, the drive shaft 108 is moved inwardly against theoutward urgence of the spring 120 until the gear 114 intermeshes with the gear 64. Then through the utilization of the hand wheel 116, the clothes receptacles 44 are revolved until the doors 105 and 106 are aligned.

Inasmuch as it is highly undesirable to open the door 105 when the container 20 is filled with a cleaning fluid, the housing 110 is provided with a sight glass 122. The sight glass 122 facilitates the determining of the amount of cleaning fluid remaining within the container 20.

Mounted on the vertical portion 12 of the housing 10 is a pump 124.. The pump 124 is provided with an intake line 126 whichhas a first intake 128 disposed in the fluid receptacle 24. The intake line 126 also passes through the vertical partition 26 and terminates in a second intake'130 which is disposed within the fluid receptacle 22. It is to be understood that the intakes 128 and. 130 are provided with separably actuatable, electricallycontrolled valves (not shown) whereby thefluid may be selectively drawn from either the fluid'recep' tacle 22or thefluid receptacle 24 by the pump 124. The pump 124' alsoincludes an outlet 132 which is communicated with the interiorof the container 20 so that fluids pumped from the fluid receptacles 22 and-24 may be pumpedfbackiintothe ,COntainer'ZD.

Carried :by the horizontal partition 18 is :an electrically controlled valve 134. The valve 134 permits the selective communication of the container 20 with the fluid receptacle 22 so that fluids carried by the container 20 may be selectively vdrained into the fluid receptacle 22. A similar electrically controlled valve 136 communicates the container 20 and the fluid receptacle 24.

It is to'be understood that the fluid receptacle 22 may receive a cleaning fluid from the container 20 while the fluid receptacle 24 will receive a rinse fluid. In order that water may be saved, it will be seen that the rinse fluids and the c'leanin g fluids may be utilized over and over: Further, the fluidreccptacles-"22 and 24 are provided -with' main lines 138 and 140, respectively, which permit the draining of fluids from the fluid receptacles It is realized that no specific switch mechanismhas been disclosed for the operation of the various portions of the invention. However, it is readily apparent that inasmuch as each and every step in the operation of the automatic washer and extractor drier is electrically controlled, a suitable switch control mechanism may be provided. If it is desired that the operation of the invention be automatic, a conventional type of timer switch may be utilized for sequentially operating the valves and the electro-magnetic device 94, as well as the power unit 54. On the other hand, in large installations where the machine is provided with an attendant, the various switches may be manually controlled. Inasmuch as the particular switch construction is not a part of this invention, it is not believed necessary to attempt to disclose a switch in more detail.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A washing machine comprising a fluid compartment, a pair of oppositely disposed receptacles mounted in said compartment for rotation about a mutual horizontal and vertical axis, a rotatable tubular shaft rotatable on a vertical axis journaled in said compartment adjacent said receptacles, a shaft rotatable on a horizontal axis carried by a lower portion of said tubular shaft and rotatable on the vertical axis thereof, the shaft rotatable on a horizontal axis having end portions integrally connected to said receptacles, a shaft rotatably journalled in said tubular shaft and having ends extending beyond the ends of the tubular shaft, angularly related power transfer means connected to the lower end of the shaft rotatable in the tubular shaft and the shaft rotatable on a horizontal axis, a first drive gear including a portion reciprocable in an upper portion of the tubular shaft, said drive gear extending out of said fluid compartment,

-a second drive gear operably connected to an upper portion of the shaft journalled in the tubular shaft, said last mentioned shaft passing through said first drive gear, a power driven gear rotatable on a horizontal axis between the first and second drive gears for operable engagement therewith, clutch means operably connected to the first and second drive gears for alternately moving one or the other of said drive gears relative to the vertical axis of rotation of the tubular shaft and into engagement with said power driven gear, and means operably connected to said clutch means for urging said drive gears toward a neutral position in opposition to said clutch means.

2. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein a longitudinally adjustable gear means rotatable on a horizontal axis is provided to operably engage said first drive gear for orienting the receptacle contained in said fluid compartment.

3. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clutch means includes a pair of parallel fork members each operably engageable with one of said drive gears, said fork members being connected at an end portion by a vertical rod parallel to the vertical axis of rotation of said drive gears, and resilient means on said vertical rods tending to maintain said drive gears out of contact with the power driven gear.

4. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein a longitudinally adjustable gear means rotatable on a horizontal axis is provided to operably engage said first drive gear for orienting the receptacles contained in said fluid compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 73,191 McCreery Jan. 7, 1868 1,622,543 Rynders Mar. 29, 1927 1,627,180 Hynes May 3, 1927 2,235,467 Vetorino et a1. Mar. 18, 1941 2,283,612 Perry May 19, 1942 2,301,803 Davis Nov. 10, 1942 2,363,613 Olcott Nov. 28, 1944 2,434,199 Dyer Jan. 6, 1948 2,506,280 Ryder May 2, 1950 

